Coonamble pigs on the nose

Piggeries within the Coonamble township, in central western New South Wales, will be forced to close.

Coonamble Shire Council says it has received a number of complaints about odour and flies.

As a result it has given about five piggeries until the end of the year to close or relocate.

General manager John Griffiths says because of the complaints the council has decided to enforce its policy on keeping livestock in urban areas.

"Not closer than one kilometre from a residence and not closer than three kilometres from the urban area and 100 metres from a watercourse - some of these piggeries are actually very close to the bank of the river," he said.